College of Allied Health Sciences

Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

Program Purpose

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Department is foster excellence in occupational therapy practice through graduate education, research, and service. Specifically, we will:

  1. Provide the community with competent occupational therapy graduates who are leaders in the field, and who, as change agents, are responsive to the unique sociocultural nature of the region and its residents,
  2. Provide quality graduate educational experiences which facilitate development of high levels of critical thinking, analytical ability, and independent inquiry, and
  3. Generate research which advances the art and science of the occupational therapy profession.

Learning Outcomes

Clinical Competence

Students will successfully complete two required Level II fieldwork experiences demonstrating the ability to apply the knowledge and skills developed throughout the dyadic coursework into clinical settings (ACOTE Standard C.1.15). This is tied to Theme 1: Clinical Performance based in Occupation.

Ethics

Students will demonstrate knowledge of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and AOTA Standards of Practice and use them as a guide for ethical decision making in professional interactions, client interventions, employment settings, and when confronted with personal and organizational ethical conflicts (ACOTE B.7.1.). This is tied to Theme 2: Critical and Ethical Reasoning.

Evaluation and Intervention Planning

Students in the OT program possess the knowledge and skills including domain:

  1. Acquire information regarding factors that influence occupational performance throughout the occupational therapy process, domain
  2. Formulate conclusions regarding client needs and priorities to develop and monitor an intervention plan throughout the occupational therapy process, domain
  3. Select interventions for managing a client-centered plan throughout the occupational therapy process, and domain
  4. Manage and direct occupational therapy services to promote quality in practice. This is tied to Theme 2: Critical and Ethical Reasoning.

Interprofessional Education and Practice

Students in the OT program will demonstrate knowledge of the principles of interprofessional team dynamics to perform effectively in different team roles to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient- and population-centered care as well as population health programs and policies that are safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitably (ACOTE B.4.25.) This is tied to Theme 1: Clinical Performance based in Occupation.

Professional Behavior

Students will demonstrate appropriate professional behavior skills necessary for successful Level II fieldwork experiences and future employment. This is tied to Theme 4: Professionalism and Leadership.

Research

Students will create scholarly reports appropriate for presentation or for publication in a peer-reviewed journal that support skills of clinical practice. The reports must be made available to professional or public audiences (ACOTE B.6.3). This is tied to Theme 3: Evidence-based Practice and Scholarship.